a blog about perfume

As I’ve probably already mentioned, rose is my favorite fragrance note. I manage to refrain from reviewing rose-scented products too often, since that would seem repetitious to most readers (fellow rose-lovers exempted!), but June is the month of roses so I’ll indulge myself this time around.

I often wear complex rose-based fragrances like Les Parfums de Rosine’s Poussière de Rose or Bond no. 9’s West Side, and I search out rose-scented body products to match. Sometimes, however, I just crave a pure rose without any citrus, spice, wood, or vanilla notes. Sonoma Scent Studio’s Velvet Rose Shea Body Cream delivers a rose soliflore in lotion form, with artful simplicity and high-quality ingredients. The Velvet Rose scent gives the impression of a bunch of newly picked pink and red roses, still slightly moist with dew or rain. A top-note of bergamot adds a passing glint of sunlight to the composition, but the other notes (including violet leaf, carnation, and musk) are blended almost imperceptibly into the central rose accord.

Sonoma Scent Studio’s body products are deeply scented; if you were in the mood for a subtle, close-wearing (but long-lasting) layer of scent, you could apply Velvet Rose Shea Body Cream generously and then skip wearing perfume. For more intensity, you could pair the cream with the matching Velvet Rose Eau de Parfum or layer it under one of Sonoma Scent Studio’s other floral fragrances, such as the powdery violet-and-rose bouquet of Cameo.

Lastly, the Body Cream’s texture is a perfect balance between fluffy and smooth, making it a pleasure to apply. Its base of shea butter is enriched with natural oils including avocado, grapeseed, and meadowfoam seed, which absorb easily into the skin while lending the benefits of antioxidants. It stays fresh in a simple black tub accented with a rose-colored Sonoma Scent Studio label.

Sonoma Scent Studio Velvet Rose Shea Body Cream sells for 4 oz for $13.50. It is available through the Sonoma Scent Studio website.

Bevfred, The owner of Sonoma Scent Studio is a gardener as well as a perfumer, so she really understands roses! According to the SSS website, there is some international shipping, and you can e-mail the company for a shipping quote. Thank you for your comment!

I am so happy to see Sonoma Scent Studio's Velvet Rose in review. I've recently been searching for the PERFECT rose perfume to wear for my wedding. I've tried them all – and like a bunch (including Stella McCartney, AG Rose Absolue, MH Geranium Bourbon, MH Rose en Noir, Lancome Mille et Une Roses, etc etc etc…) But Velvet Rose quickly became my rose soliflore HG and is the most perfect wonderful LONG LASTING rose perfume. I adore it, and Laurie Erickson is wonderful. Actually, SSS Rose Musc is also wonderful – a little warmer with other notes, but it layers perfectly with Velvet Rose for a very interesting rose experience. Velvet Rose is like standing near a wonderful old fashioned rose bush with spectacular fragrance. When you pair it with Rose Musc, it's like standing in the middle of a full blooming rose garden that smells wonderful and you get the sense of all the different roses at once. BTW – her Vintage Rose is great for those who like rose with some incense…..I can't say enough good things about Sonoma Scent Studio's rose perfumes. They are all great and deserve a lot more attention!

AnnS, What lovely praise for SSS! And thanks for commenting as a fellow rose-lover. It *is* strangely difficult to find a beautiful rose soliflore, but this one fits the bill perfectly for me. (I'm a fan of Vintage Rose, too: such an intriguing plummy-woody-winey rose, much more autumnal!)

I too am a long time rose soliflore devotee. And though I really enjoy wearing many different rose based perfumes, it is hard to find that type of magnificent, intoxicating “rosebush” frarance. A good rose goes so well with everything– weather, food, occasions, etc. I only recently found Sonoma Scent Studio, and am so glad I did. Laurie is such a joy to work with, and it was easy to get samples. I just knew as soon as I tested it that Velvet Rose was the one I'd been searching for! It's nice to know here are other die-hard rose lovers out there — esp. ones with blog-influence!!

Just thought I'd let you know that I went to Sonoma Scent's website, and Cameo doesn't seem to be available anymore. A shame, because I was hoping in body creme form it might pair well with l'Artisan's Drole de Rose, which my mom just purchased, but is having trouble getting to stick around. I did order Velvet Rose body creme, and hopefully this will work.

You are correct! Thanks for that update; it must have been removed very recently. She does rotate scents from time to time; I hope Cameo will return. Cameo wasn't available as a body-product fragrance, in any case, but the Velvet Rose is such a versatile rose that it should work with many other rose scents. (I love Drole de Rose, incidentally!)